]]>Warner Bros., for reasons not entirely clear, has been itching for a Scooby-Doo reboot ever since the previous iteration limped out of our hearts and minds. Of course, just because something is forgettable doesn’t mean it’s not profitable, and something so clearly marketed towards kids means merchandising, DVD sales, and repeat viewings of the film in theaters.

Nonetheless, it’s still a little strange that they’ve been plugging away at this so diligently. But it seems their efforts have been rewarded. The new cast WON’T be coming back, so that means, as entertainment writers, there will be a whole new casting effort that we’ll have to pretend to care about in the next few months.

Of course, this is the first time that Andy Serkis can really try broad physical comedy in a mo-cap suit, should he be picked to portray the titular dog. Which he won’t.

]]>Radio legend and the bedrock on which Matthew Lillard built his Shaggy performance passed away yesterday morning at the age of 82. His death ends the long and public legal battle between his three oldest children and their stepmother, his wife Jean, he warred over his well-being and kept his location a secret.

It’s always hard to write about sad news on an entertainment humor site where we try to keep things light. It can be really frustrating, as the deceased Mr. Kasem surely agrees.

]]>All but the simplest children glossed over the live-action Scooby-Doo film(s) (there may have been more than one, there’s really no way of knowing what happened that far back in history) starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Linda Cardellini Jr., and Sarah Michelle Gellar IV.

Following that effort’s indifferent reaction, the folks at Warner Bros. have decided that animated is the way to go, so they’ll be putting out a new film that’s presumably in the vein of the animated series of yore, possibly containing esoteric drug references and lots of old men wearing latex masks.

While this seems to be an answer to a question no one asked, if they can steer the family-friendly ship away from recent painful CGI/live-action outings like Marmaduke, The Smurfs, and those godforesaken singing squirrels that kept harassing David Cross, then fine. Whatever.

]]>Last week on Monday Night Raw, the wrestling program that just keeps plugging along, whether we pay attention to it or not, featured a very special guest appearance by none other than the Muppets. The fuzzy characters seem to be pounding the pavement early, shilling their newest film to anyone who will listen.

Sure, the WWE is notoriously unscrupulous when it comes to who it will cross-market with, but I would think that the sanctity of the Muppets would keep them from getting roped into a dog-and-pony show such as this. Well, they weren’t.

TV boasts a long history of ill-advised guests appearances and promotional stunts. This Muppet one is just the latest, so take a look at the Muppet appearance and eight more. Then go take a shower.

Muppets on Monday Night Raw

As we’ll see, what seems like an inconsequential decision at the time to include an up-and-coming band in a TV show can often prove profoundly bizarre further down the line. The Flaming Lips have established themselves as a pillar of millennial alternative culture and 90210…not so much.

Before they had hacked out an identity, they were pimping their hit “She Don’t Use Jelly” everywhere they could. And this video proves that point beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Harlem Globetrotters on Scooby Doo

In the 1970’s, the Harlem Globetrotters got their own cartoon with Hanna-Barbera. Fair enough. I guess they were popular enough to carry their own show. However, in an attempt to cross-promote, Hanna-Barbera shoehorned the Globetrotters into a Scooby-Doo crossover, i understand the need to market your show, but this happened on no less than three separate occasions.

Individually, I guess the moves make sense in context. Sort of. But even as an eight year-old in the 80’s, I was caught off guard watching these reruns, wondering why the hell the Harlem Globetrotters were being called in to investigate haunted amusement parks.

]]>http://www.screenjunkies.com/tv/tv-lists/the-muppets-on-wwe-raw-and-8-other-ill-advised-tv-guest-appearances/feed/09 Movie Dogs That Should Have Been Put To Sleephttp://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-lists/9-movie-dogs-that-should-have-been-put-to-sleep/
http://www.screenjunkies.com/movies/movie-lists/9-movie-dogs-that-should-have-been-put-to-sleep/#commentsTue, 20 Sep 2011 14:00:59 +0000http://www.screenjunkies.com/?p=229134Oh, they'll go to live with a family on a farm, all right...*takes off sunglasses*...a death farm.

]]>Forget female body types. It’s depictions of dogs in movies that create unrealistically high expectations. They can’t all be Lassie or Rin Tin Tin. I’m a dog-lover, but there are many, many, many annoying dogs in this world, and Hollywood is responsible for a disproportionate amount of them. With that in mind, let’s take a look a 9 movie dogs that should have been put to sleep.

9. Puffer – There’s Something About Mary

This spastic little dog is about as obnoxious as his owner, Magda. Puffer has tricked Magda into thinking that he can judge the quality of a person within moments of just reading them, which is total crap. I bet Hitler himself could stroll into her joint with a pocketful of bacon and pass Puffer’s litmus test.

Also, Puffer bit Ben Stiller in the crotch and neck. Nowadays, I would say that merits a medal and parade, but this was before I was sick of Ben Stiller, so I condemn Puffer to death.

8. Chloe – Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Don’t feel like I need to state much of a case here. Chihuahuas are annoying. Beverly Hills Chihuahuas are unspeakably annoying (I would assume). This dog vacations in Mexico. I don’t even vacation in Mexico. What crap! To give you an idea of what we’re dealing with, the Chihuahua is voiced by Drew Barrymore, so that’s another strike against Chloe. She has a diamond collar, too.

Dogs shouldn’t have nicer things than I do. That’s so unfair.

7. The Bumpus’ Dogs – A Christmas Story

They ate The Old Man’s turkey. If you knew how big of a turkey junkie the old man was, you’d have no trouble doling out the death penalty to these pups. Neither the dogs, nor the Bumpus’ themselves show any regard for personal space and property. It’s not their fault that their owners are trash, but these dogs are beyond help. They need to be put down.